Logging car chock



Jun l, 1937. M. MARKKULA LOGGING CAR CHOCK Filed Sept. 26, 1936 INI VEVTOR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented June 1, 1937 UNITED STATES zszsef PATENT oEFicE LOGGING CAR CHOCK Matt Markkula, Fort Bragg, Calif. Application.September 26, 1936, Serial No. 102,770

8 Claims.

yThis invention relates to logging car chocks and pertains particularly to improvements in the locking mechanism for stakes or chocks of the kind disclosed in my prior Patent Number 1,398,441 for Stake for ilat-cars, issued November 29, 1921.

In'said prior patent there is disclosed a mechanismior retaining logs or the like on a flat car, and which comprises generally, pairs of stakes or chocks arranged opposite each other on the bed of the car and received vin transversely extending guideways having their ends oiset in a downward direction, so that the chocks may be received in an unobstructing position below the log-supporting surface of the car. A locking rod is attached to each of the stakes and extends transversely of the car beneath the car bed. A chain or other suitable device is secured to the end of the locking rod and co-operates with a lock member positioned on the side of the car to retain the chock in its operative position. When the car is to be unloaded,.the looking member is released and the weight of the logs moves the chock downwardly until it is received by the offset ends of the guideways, so that it assumes a position permitting the logs to roll off the sides of 'the car.

It is with the said locking member and its related parts that the present invention is particularly concerned. In unloading logs from flat cars it is common practice to move the car past a log-dumping station which comprises a barrier known as a log-dump built to lie closely adjacent the edge of the moving car. The natural position for the locking member of the chock is such that it is very likely to strike against the log-dump as the car passes, with the result that the lock may be released or destroyed. The accidental breakage or release of a lock upon a loaded car presents a condition hazardous to workmen, and increases the cost of the logging operations.

lIt is the object of the present invention to provide an improved chock for logging cars which is superior in point of safety and eiiiciency to devices heretofore known.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a logging car chock having a locking member designed and arranged to prevent accidental breakage or unlocking thereof by contact with a log-dump or other objects past which the car may move. A further object of the invention is the provision in a logging car chock of a locking mechanism that is easily actuatedto secure the chock in chocking position but having means to resist accidental unlocking of the chock. Furvto any desired point.

(Cl. 10S-385) invention; 1 -V '10' Fig. 2 is an enlarged endv view of one ofthe chock members illustrated inFig. 1; l

Fig. 3 is a'sectional view taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2, with the locking mechanism removed; and I l5 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of` the locking mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing indetail, Fig. 1 il; lustrates a at car loaded-with logs andmovin'g along tracks IIJ which are inclined, to cause one r20:

edge of the car to assume the -level of a log-dump;` II which extends parallel to the tracks I I) and parallel to the edge of a log-pond I3 into which the logs are dumped to be transported by floating pairs of chock members generally indicated at I4, `which -are substantially triangular in shape andeach of vwhich comprises a body portion I5 (see Fig. 3) having a ilangeA Iii-formed on its two-upstanding sides. 'I'he ends of the flangeare 30 rounded as at I 'I and I8 to form bearing surfaces which slide upon guides I9. The body portion of each chock is provided ywith an extension having a transverse member- `20 arrangedbelow, the guides I9. The guides are carried by a hol- 35 low casing which comprises side plates 2|. and top plates 22 and a transverse brace-23, so that it may be conveniently and securely supported between transverse beams 24 (see Fig. 2) of the car. The outer ends of the guides I9 slope downwardly 4o as shown at 25, thus providinga space within which the chock I4 may be received, as illustrated at the left-hand side of Fig. 1, when it is moved toward the outer end of the car. A locking rod 2'I is secured to each of the chocks and 45 extends'toward the opposite side of the car within thespace between the transverse beams 24 which receives the casing supporting the chock. A chain 28 forms an extension of each of the bars 2'I and passes through an opening 29 in the 50 otherwise closed end of the casing.

The device as described up to this point is identical in principle with that disclosed in my prior patent referred to above, but means presently to be described, for locking and releasing 5,5

The car is provided with .2.5;

lindicated at 3|, which co-operates with the chain 28 to secure the chocks in their chocking position, such position being illustrated at the right hand side of Fig. 1. Through this positioning of the locking mechanism, there is no possibility of the lock or any of its parts coming into contact with the log-dump Il as the car passes the dump and as the chock is released to permit the logs to roll from the car over the dump and into the pond. The outer face of the casing is flush with the outer edge of the car so that a rugged structure extending the full length of the car overhangs and protects the locking mechanism.

The construction of the sliding lock member which is received in the guideway 30 is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. It comprises a flat plate with a longitudinally disposed slot 32 adapted to receive a horizontally disposed link of the chain 28 where it passes through the opening 29, and to prevent the passing'therethrough of the chain, by reason of its contact with the vertically disposed links adjoining the opposite ends of thev engaged, horizontally' disposed link. 'Ihe slot 32 is widened toward one end of the plate and opensY through the lower edge of the plate, as at 33, so that upon sliding movement of the locking member in the guides 30 and in a left-hand direction as viewed'in Fig. 2, the enlarged portion of the slot 32 registers with the hole 29 and permits the chain '28' to pass freely therethrough, so that the weightl of the logs on the car will move the released chockV to its unobstructing position.

The lower edge of the lock member is provided with an `ear 34 which is disposed adjacent the end of the lowermost guide member 3D, when the chain is lockedl lThe sliding member ilts loosely in the guides 30, so that it maybe slightly raised to cause the ear 34 to pass over the edge of the guide member when the lock is to be,

released. This construction resists the releasing movementof the lock and prevents accidental orl premature opening thereof. A head 35 is provided on the outer end of the locking member, and this head may be struck a sharp blow with a Sledge-hammer or the like, to cause the ear 34 to ride into the gudeway 3U and release the lock at the proper time. The head 35 comprises a rearwardly extending lug 36 which, upon movement of the plate 3| to its chain-releasing position, contacts the side of the casing to prevent the plate from sliding any farther than is necessary.

The chocks are set in their chocking position and locked at the time that the logs are loaded upon the car. When the logs are to be dumped, the locking member on the opposite side of the car from which the dumping is to take place is released by striking the head 35 with a Sledge or the like. The chock is then forced downwardly by the weight of the logs rollingfrom the car, and as it moves outwardly it assumesthe position illustrated at the left-hand side of Fig. l, where the logs are permitted to roll over it with perfect freedom.

Certain features of my invention have been described in detail by way of illustration, but it should be understood that various changes may be resorted to in the construction and arrangement of its several parts, within the spirit and scope of the invention as it is defined in the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a chocking device for logging cars and the like, comprising chock ,members adjustable transversely of the car, casings disposed at opposite edges of the car and receiving said chock members, said casings having recessed portions 1 in their outwardly facing surfaces, and locking means for said chock members disposed within said recesses.

2; In a` chocking device for logging cars and the like,.a pair of chock members arranged at opposite sides of the car and adjustable transversely of the' car, locking members disposed beneath an overhanging edge of the car, one adjacent each chock, and a connection between the chock on each side of the car and the lockingv member onthe opposite side.

3. In a chocking device for logging cars which comprises adjustable chock members disposed! at opposite sides of'the car,- a locking member adjacent each chock member for co-operationwith a' chain leading from the` opposite chock member and comprising a slidable plate having a slot for en- 'i gagement with the chain, said slot being enlarged toward one end to permit free movement of the chain therethrough.

4. In a chockingdevice for logging cars Whichcomprises adjustable chock members disposed at opposite sides of the car, a locking member 'adjacent each chock member'for co-operation with a chain leading from the opposite chock member and comprising a plate slidable in guideways from e a position engaging said chain to` a position releasing said chain, and an ear on oneedgeofv said plate engageable with one of said guideways when the plate engages the chain to resist movement of the plate to' a position releasing the chain. f A

5. In a chocking device for logging cars which comprises adjustable chock members disposed at opposite sides of the car, a locking member adjacent each chock member for co-operation with a chain leading from the opposite chock memberand comprisingv a plate slidable in guldeways* from a position engaging said chain to a position releasing said chain, an ear on` one edge of said' plate engageable with one of said guidewaysv when the plate engages the chain to resist movement of thel plate to a position releasing the chain, and a head on one end of said plate prof viding a point to be struck to move the plate to 16o a releasing position.

6. A chainlock for a logging car chock which comprises a plate slidablein guideways over an opening Vthrough which a length of chain passes and having a slot wide at one end and narrow at the other end to engage and release said chain upon sliding of the plate.

7. A chain lock for-a logging car chock which comprises a plate slidable in guideways over an" 70 and having a slot wide at' one end and narrow at opening through which a length of chain passes the other end to engage and'release said chain upon sliding of the plate, and means o'n the plate engageable with: the guideways to resist move ment 'of the plate to its' chain releasing position; l

8. A chain lock for a logging car chock which comprises a plate slidable in guideways over an opening through which a length of chain passes and having a slot Wide at one end and narrow at the other end to engage and release said chain upon sliding of the plate, means on the plate engageable with the guideways to resist movement of the plate to its chain' releasing postion, and a lug on said plate to stop its movement when it attains its chain releasing position.

MATI MARKKULA. 

